Decoy



Sept. 7 192s. "1,598,619

v J. w. REYNOLDS DECOY Filed Ma 10, 1926 I NWENTOR.

7477265 [(2 figyrzaldsx y W I I.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

JAMES W. REYNOLDS, GF FOREST PARK, ILLINOIS.

. IDECOY.

- Application filed May 10, 1826. Serial No. 108,199.

The invention relates to foldable orv col lapsible decoys for simulation of water fowl, such as ducks and geese and adapted for use by sportsmen and hunters.

A further object is to provide a canvas decoy that can be easily and quickly distended or collapsed and when collapsed is formed into a relatively small package for shipping and storage purposes.

A further object is to provide distending means for the decoy, which distending means is yieldable in its nature, thereby conforming to the interior dimensions of the canvas cover incident to shrinkage or stretching of said cover.

A further object is to provide a buoyant base for the decoy and a decoy which will not be rendered inoperative should the same become punctured by shot, which is one of the main difiiculties with many decoys as at present constructed.

A further object is to provide a canvas decoy having a slit in its lower side, and through which slit the buoyant base and the distending parts may be placed or removed, thereby allowing the decoy to be quickly assembled or disassembled.

A further object is to provide a decoy comprising a horizontally disposed base disposed withina pliable member, which when distended simulates the form of a duck or other decoy having a head, a rearwardly extending U-shaped tail loop having its arms pivotally connected to the base, preferably adjacent its forward end, a head block, said head block being carried by a down wardly extending spring arm and to pro vide the spring arm with a rearwardly ex tending operating arm adapted to be grasped by the operator for positioning the head block, in the head portion of the pliable body. Also to provide a gripping member carried by the. buoyant base for gripping and holding the operating arm on the buoyant body in a central longitudinal position. i

A further object is to provide the under side of the buoyant body with an eye, adjacent eyes carried by the canvas body, and through all of which eyes an anchor line may be passed thereby utilizing the anchor line for holding the cover on the buoyant body.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of "the invention may be made within the scope ofwhat 1s claimed without departing of the invention. 7

In the drawing F gure 1 s a side eleyation of the decoy. Figure? 1s a PGISPBCblVQ view of the decoy showing the same collapsed.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the decoy distending means and the buoyant base.

Figure 4. is a top plan view of the decoy in distended position showing the cover removed.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the decoy, showing the mechanism in partial distended position. Figure 6 is a top elevation of the distend- I from the spirit mg mechanism showing the same in folded position.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the-- decoy.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the buoyant base of the decoy, and 2 the fabric top thereof which is preferably formed from canvas, and which top when distended is in the shape of a duck or goose. The fabric top 2 is provided with an extension 3 shaped to simulate the head of a duck, however when the device is c0llapsed the fabric top collapses downwardly onto the base 1 for forming a compact package for shipping or storage purposes. Hmgedly connected at of the buoyant base 1 is a U-shaped member 5,-which U-shaped member extends rearwardly and into the tail portion 6 of the collapsible top 2, and inclines upwardly and rearwardly for supporting the tailportion at a natural elevation, that is when the top 21s distended. Disposed within the collapsible top 2 and on the base 1 is a head block 7, which isadapted to be forced into the head portion 3 of the collapsible top. Block 7 has secured to the under side thereof at 8 an angularly disposed arm 9, and which arm terminates in an operating arm 10 substantially in parallel relation to the underside of the block 7, and terminates in a finger engaging member 11, which extends through the opening 12 1n the under side of i to opposite sides 7 in placing the same in the head extension.

3 of the collapsible top 2 or removing said block from said extension. It will be noted "the arm 9, when the top is distended as shown in Figure 3, inclines downwardly and rearwardly, thereby allowing a spring action therein which will accommodate the device to the interior of the collapsible top, incident to shrinkage or stretching thereof, consequently overcoming one of the main difficulties with devices of this character as atpresent constructed. 1 I

When it is desired to distend the device the operator grasps the finger engaging member 11 while holding the buoyant base 1 and rotates the arm 10 which will move the head block 7 upwardly to a position where it can be passed into the head portion 3 of the collapsible top, then the operator imparts a forward push on the operating arm 10. which will distend the forward portion of the collapsible top and at the same time raise the U-shaped member 5 to the position shown in Figure 8. The operator forces the operating arm 10- forwardly until it is in engagement for substantially its entire length with the upper surface of the buoyant base 1 and is. in the dotted line position shown in Figure 4, and after which the operating arm 10 is moved to the central full line position shown in Figure 4: under the spring arm 13, which arm will positively hold the operating arm against upwardmovement, but at the same time will frictionally hold the arm against rearward movement and will allow said arm to assume a position according to any shrinkage that may have taken place in the collapsible top, and the, spring action of the arm 9 will additionally take care of said shrin-k-' age and any variations in manufacture. \Vhen the device is collapsed the. parts are in, the position. shown in Figure 6, and when the device is distended the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3. When the device is oollapsed for shipping or storage purposes, the buoyant base 1 may be entirely removed from the collapsible top 2' through the elongated opening 1 1 in the underside thereof, or the parts can remain within the top.

The underside of the base 1 is provided with a staple 15, which staple extends downwardly through the opening 14, ad'- jacent eyes 16 carried by the bottom 17 of the collapsible'top and at opposite sides of the opening 1a, and through which staple and eyes the anchoring line 18 is passed and secured, therefore it will be seen that the anchoring line is utilized for maintaining the opening: 14 substantially closed, and at the same time a certain amount of adjustfabric parts of the device.

ability incident to shrinkage may be compensated for if desired at this point, however ordinary shrinkage is taken care of by the spring arm 9. 7

From the above it will be seen that a col lapsible decoy is provided which may be easily and quickly collapsed or distended, and the working parts thereof are reduced to a minimum, thereby allowing the decoy to be cheaply manufactured and sold. It will also be seen that the distending mechanism will yieldably hold the parts distended, thereby accommodating itself automatically to shrinking or stretching of the Although the collapsibletop is described as formed from canvas it is to be understood it may be formed from any pliable material and applicant does not limit himself in this particular. The base 1 may be formed from wood, cork or any other buoyant material.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is 1. The combination with acollapsible decoy comprising a base, a fabric collapsible top. carried by said base and shaped to simulate a duck having a tail portion and a head portion, a rearwardly extending U-sha-pedtail distending member pivotally connected'to the base, of a head portion receiving member, saidhead portion receiving member comprising a block adapted to be received in the head portion,-a rearwardly' and downwardly inclined arm carried by said block, a rearwardly extending arm: carried by said last named arm, the rear end of saidrearwardly extending arm extending through an opening beneath the, tail portion of the collapsible top, and means carried by the base and holding said rearwardly extending arm.

2'. A decoy comprising. a buoyant base, a collapsible top. formed from pliable material and shaped to. simulate a duck having a rearwardly extending tail and a forwardly extending head portion, a U -shaped tail distending member hingedly' connected to the base, ahead portion receiving block, a spring arm carried by said head portion receiving block and a rearward-Ly extending control arm carried-' by said spring arm.

3.. A decoy comprising a buoyant base, a collapsible body carried by said base, said body having a tail portion extending beyond the rear end of the base, a head portion extending forwardly in relation to; the base, a hinged member within the collapsible top and carried by the base, said hinged member extending into the tail portion of the collapsible top, anoperating arm within the collapsible top and freely movable therein, an upwardly extending obtusely disposed arm carried by the operating arm, a head portion receiving block carried by the obtusely disposed arnr and. disposed within the head portion of the collapsible top, and means carried by the base and holding the operating arm.

4. A decoy comprising a buoyant base, a collapsible top carried thereby, a tail portion carried by said top, a head portion carried by said top, a hinged member carried by the base and forming means for distending the tail portion of the top, a head block disposed within the head portion of the top, a control arm within the collapsible top and connected to the head block and freely movable within the collapsible top, and means for receiving and holding the control arm on the base and the head portion in distended position. Y

5. The combination with a decoy device comprising a base, a collapsible top having a tail portion wd a head portion, collapsible means for distending said top by engagement with the head portion and the tail portion, and a control member carrying said head portion collapsing means shiftable longitudinally of and rockable with relation to said base, and means for holding the control member against movement.

6. The combination with a decoy comprising a buoyant base, a collapsible top formed from fabric, a hingedly mounted tail distending loop carried by said base, a head block adapted to be received in a portion of the collapsible top, of control means for said head portion, said control means comprising a downwardly and rearwardly-extending arm, a control arm carried by said downwardly and'rearwardly extending arm and disposed on the base, holding means carried by the base and adapted to receive and hold the control arm, said control arm terminating adjacent an opening in the collapsible top.

7. The combination with a collapsible decoy comprising a buoyant base, a collapsible top, said collapsible top extending under the base and provided with a slit through which the base can be passed, of means for attaching an anchor line thereto, said means comprising an eye carried by the under side of the base and extending through the opening in the collapsible top, and adjacent eyes in said top at opposite sides of the opening therein and through which eyes an anchor line-may be passed.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JAMES W. REYNOLDS. 

